| ||
|---|---|---|
Mayor of London (2000–2008) Elections
 | ||
Rise was a free anti-racismmusic festival held inLondon,England, from 1996 to 2008. Originally organised as ananti-racism festival by theTrades Union Congress (TUC), it was revived as such by the formermayor of London,Ken Livingstone.[1] In June 2008, theGreater London Authority, under newly elected mayorBoris Johnson, removed the anti-racist message of the festival.[2] Subsequently, thetrade unionsUNISON andUnite the Union withdrew their festival funding,[3][4] and Johnson cancelled the festival in April 2009, blaming lack of sponsorship.[5]
When, in 1996, the festival was set up,[1] it was originally called "Respect". While primarily a music festival, it also worked to encourage trade unions,voluntary groups,charities andcommunity organisations to highlight their work and ideas concerning equality and the promotion of anti-racism.[citation needed]
The original event took part inFinsbury Park and featured artistsChumbawamba,Fun-Da-Mental,Asian Dub Foundation andIncognito. In 1997, the featured musicians wereLuciano,Audioweb, theFun Lovin' Criminals andDreadzone and the event took place inVictoria Park,Hackney.
There was no event between 1998 and 2000, but in May 2000 Ken Livingstone was elected mayor with amanifesto pledge to organise that the anti-racist festival become a yearly event.[citation needed]
The first festival, dubbed "Respect", under Livingstone's tenure, took place in 2001 and attracted around 60,000 people. Since then attendances have been reached around 100,000.[6] After the launch of the political party also calledRespect, the festival changed its name to Rise for 2005. After the7 July 2005 London bombings it was renamedLondon United, but changed back to just Rise in 2008.[citation needed]
The 2008 festival saw headlinerJimmy Cliff cut off during his set when it overran past the 8:30 pm curfew time, with the sound system switched off halfway through a performance of "Rivers of Babylon", causing him and the band to leave the stage in silence.[7]
In 2010, Rise was given new life as a people's festival named UpRise with the venue again in Finsbury Park, supported by unions such as SERTUC, UNISON, NUT and Unite the Union among others.[8]
